第一财经·2026-01-05 02:26Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent military actions by the U.S. against Venezuela, highlighting the potential for U.S. oil companies to invest billions in Venezuelan oil infrastructure, which could significantly impact global oil markets and prices [3]. Group 1: Military Actions and Economic Implications - The U.S. military conducted a large-scale operation against Venezuela, capturing President Maduro and announcing plans to "manage" the country, which includes significant investments in the oil sector [3]. - U.S. oil companies are expected to invest billions to repair oil infrastructure in Venezuela, which has the largest proven oil reserves globally, estimated at 303 billion barrels, accounting for 17% of the world's total [3][4]. Group 2: Current Oil Production and Trends - Venezuela's oil production has drastically declined from over 2 million barrels per day in 2017 to around 930,000 barrels per day in November 2025, reflecting a 2.3% month-on-month decrease [4]. - The average oil production for 2025 was reported at 916,000 barrels per day, showing an 8.57% year-on-year increase, while the average export volume was 728,000 barrels per day, up 10.7% year-on-year [4]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Future Outlook - Oil and gas stocks surged following the news, with companies like Quanzhou Oil and PetroChina seeing significant price increases [3]. - Despite the short-term support for oil prices due to geopolitical instability, analysts caution that the macro environment may not sustain long-term price increases, especially with OPEC+ discussions on restoring production levels [5]. - The article notes that the price of WTI and Brent crude oil has dropped approximately 20% over the year, from $72 and $75 per barrel to $56 and $60, respectively, influenced by OPEC+ production increases and oversupply [5].